Critical Threats Project

The US-Israeli combined force has continued strikes targeting Iranian Law Enforcement Command and IRGC infrastructure. The force successfully struck several key IRGC Ground Forces sites in Esfahan Province.

Iran has also attacked Israel with cluster munitions and conducted a drone attack in Bahrain since March 8 at 3:00 PM ET.

The Emirati Defense Ministry reported that Iran launched 15 ballistic missiles and 18 drones at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 9. This marks a significant decrease in the number of drones launched at the UAE since March 8.

NEW | Iran has continued to attack Israel and other regional countries since 3:00 PM ET on March 8. The Turkish Defense Ministry stated on March 9 that a ballistic missile launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace, and was intercepted by NATO air defenses. www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/ira...

Continued investment into Ukraine's defense industrial base is important not just for Ukrainian security but also for the United States and its allies.

Ukraine's institutional knowledge has enabled Ukrainian firms to rapidly develop and refine capabilities specifically tailored to counter Iranian-origin weapons.

The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait have already requested or expressed interest in importing Ukrainian interceptor drones from Ukrainian companies who have the ability to export battle-tested interceptor drones to the US and US allies.

Ukrainian experts and military personnel will depart from Ukraine on March 9 to teach unspecified Gulf states Ukraine's knowledge on how to destroy drones.

MORE | Ukraine’s experience in defending against Iranian drones can strengthen the air defenses of the United States and its allies in the Middle East. www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/ira...

Mojtaba will face several immediate challenges, including trying to establish his legitimacy and attempting to unite and gain the support of various regime factions. Mojtaba’s connections to the IRGC and the Office of the Supreme Leader may mitigate some of these challenges. (3/3)

Mojtaba’s selection as the Supreme Leader represents a victory for hardline factions over more pragmatic figures within the regime. (2/3)

NEW | Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the next Supreme Leader on March 8.
Read today's update from CTP and @thestudyofwar.bsky.social: www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/ira... (1/3)

Hezbollah has claimed 19 attacks targeting IDF positions and forces in northern Israel and southern Lebanon since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff at 3:00 PM ET on March 7. (11/11)

Unspecified security sources told Reuters that unidentified actors conducted a drone attack targeting the United Nations building in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan. (10/11)

Iran conducted two separate drone attacks against Kuwait on March 7 targeting the Kuwaiti Social Security Building and fuel storage tanks at the Kuwait International Airport. (9/11)

Iran has continued to target regional countries and Israel since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff at 3:00 PM ET on March 7. (8/11)

The IDF stated on March 8 that it has struck more than 600 Hezbollah targets and killed more than 200 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon since February 28. (7/11)

The IDF has continued to conduct airstrikes against Hezbollah to degrade Hezbollah’s ability to launch attacks against IDF forces and positions in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. (6/11)

These sites include the Esfahan Province Law Enforcement Command (LEC) Headquarters, which oversees LEC units in Esfahan Province. (5/11)

The combined force has reportedly targeted at least five internal security sites in and around Esfahan City, central Iran, since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff at 3:00 PM ET on March 7. (4/11)

Satellite imagery published by the Associated Press in September 2025 showed that Iran had started repairing damaged mixer buildings at Shahroud. (3/11)

The IDF struck buildings at the Shahroud Missile Facility during the June 2025 Israel-Iran War that had previously housed planetary mixers, which are essential for producing ballistic missile solid fuel. (2/11)

NEW | Geolocated satellite imagery published on March 7 confirms that the IDF struck the Shahroud Missile Facility in Semnan Province, northeastern Iran.

Read today's Morning Special Edition from CTP and @thestudyofwar.bsky.social: www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/ira... (1/11)

The combined force struck the IRGC Aerospace Force infrastructure in Tehran on March 7, likely to degrade Iranian air defense capabilities and command and control.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the Iranian drone threat with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud on March 7, and said that Ukraine is "ready to help" Saudi Arabia address the threat posed by Shahed drones.

An Israeli journalist reported on March 7 that Israel estimates that Iran has about 120 missile launchers remaining.

The combined force expanded its airstrike campaign to include Iranian oil production and storage facilities for the first time on March 7.

Pezeshkian’s comments reiterated a long-standing regime policy rather than signal a policy shift, yet still drew criticism from hardliners, which highlights the extent of divisions within Iran’s leadership.

NEW | Senior Iranian hardline officials are upset over Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's March 7 statement about Iranian attacks on regional countries. www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/ira...

Ukrainian forces conducted an Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)/SCALP-EG missile strike against a Russian Shahed drone launch site near occupied Donetsk City on March 7.